Convertible sofa-bed improvement

ABSTRACT

An improved support for a sofa-bed of the type in which the backrest is rotated forward into a horizontal position to form a bed. One or more support members are pivotally attached along the backrest between its supporting legs to provide additional central support for the backrest when it is in the bed position. The support members have pivot points along the axis of rotation of the backrest.

O Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 Purves, Jr. 5] Jan. 7, 1975 I5 CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED IMPROVEMENT 3,284,812 11/1966 K6 11 5/l3 Inventor: George T. Purves J 5337 3,377,635 4/1968 Schindler 5/45 igggz lndlanapohs Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodard, Weikart, [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1973 Emhardt & Naughton [21] Appl. No.: 424,362

[57] ABSTRACT [52' U 5 Cl 5/45 5/59 R An improved support for a sofa-bed of the type in 5 1] A47c 17/16 which the backrest is rotated forward into a horizontal [58] Fie'ld 5/38 Z 46 59 position to form a bed. One or more support members 5 are pivotally attached along the backrest between its supporting legs to provide additional central support [56] References Cited for the backrest when it is in the bed position. The support members have pivot points along the axis of UNITED STATES PATENTS rotation of the backrest. 2,709,817 6/l955 Poyer 5/59 R 0 2,866,982 1/1959 Purves, Jr. 5/45 3 Clalms, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3.858255 2 Sheets-Shect 1 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,255

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED IMPROVEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is in the field of beds with traversing over seats.

2. Description of the Prior Art A convertible sofa-bed structure of the type in which the backrest is rotated forwardly and downwardly into the bed position is described in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,866,982. A support bar is provided for the backrest which extends along the length of the backrest. This bar has been the only support for the backrest when the sofa-bed is in the bed position other than the two support legs at each end of the backrest.

It has been found that in the event of frequent and heavy use, the backs on the convertible sofa-beds, when opened into the bed position, have a weakness in that they sometimes break in the middle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is, in a convertible sofa-bed structure having an elevated horizontally disposed first frame, a seat cushion supported on the frame, a backrest, and pivot means on the first frame for moving the backrest between an upstanding position on the seat cushion and a horizontal position aligned with and adjacent to the seat cushion, the improvement which comprises a support bar, positioned behind the backrest, including a first support leg coupled to the first frame and-pivotally attached to one end portion of the backrest at a first pivot point, a second support leg coupled to the first frame and pivotally attached to the other end portion of the backrest at a second pivot point, and a support member pivotally attached to a portion of the backrest at a third pivot point alongthe axis of rotation of the backrest established by the first and second pivot points.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible sofa-bed of the type in which the backrest rotates forwardly and downwardly into the bed position wherein a support is provided between the ends of the backrest which does not interfere with the cnvertibility of the sofa-bed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention shall be apparent from the following description and accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation view of a convertible sofabed structure embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view thereof at one stage during the movement of the backrest portion from its position shown in FIG. 1 to its positions shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when in the bed position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a convertible sofa-bed structure similar to that of FIG. 5 but having a modified form of backrest support bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will neverthelessbe understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is shown a convertible sofa-bed structure similar to that disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 2,866,982, but embodying the present invention. A covered cushion and supporting frame 10 is rigidly mounted on four legs such as 11. Only the end members of one end of the sofa-bed will be described in detail, it being understood that the end members of the other end are identical, in mirror image, to those described. A backrest 12 is pivotally attached at its end, at 13, to the upper end of a turnover bar 14, whose lower angular portion is pivoted at 16 to the cushion frame. An arm rest 22 is rigidly attached to a side support frame 21 which is pivotally attached at 19 (FIG. 2) to the seat cushion frame.

A backrest support bar 23 is rigidly attached to side support frame 21 at points '24 and 26 (FIG. 1). The portion of backrest support bar 23between points 24 and 26 forms a fourth side of the siderest support frame 21, and this portion of thebackrest support bar is pivotally attached at point 17 to backrest 12 through the use of a bracket 18 (FIG. 3). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, backrest support bar23 extends along the length of the convertible sofa-bed and serves as support for the backrest in the bed position as well as a support for the backrest in the sofa position. The manner in which the convertible sofa-bed may bechanged from the sofa position to the bed position is shown in the sequence of FIGS. 1 through '3.

As shown in FIG. 4, additional support for the backrest 12 in the bed position is provided by a bracing member 27. Bracing member 27 is rigidly attached at point 28 (FIG. 5) to backrest support bar 23. The other end of bracing member 27 is pivotally attached at point 29 to backrest 12 by means of bracket 31 and a conventional fastener such as bolt 32. An essential element of the pivotal attachment of bracing leg 27 is that pivot point 29 is directly along the axis of rotation of backrest 12 established by pivot point 17 and analogous pivot point 33 at the opposite ends of the sofa-bed. In

this manner, the rotation of backrest 12 relative to backrest support bar 23 is always about a common axis of rotation and there is no binding caused by support member 27 when the backrest 12 is swung into either the bed or sofa positions. Support member27 is therefore available to support the middle portion of the backrest when it is in the bed position and yet member 27 does not need tobe moved or adjusted independently of the natural movement of the backrest support bar 23.

FIG. 6 shows the sofa-bed of FIGS. 1 throughS with the difference that backrest support bari23 has been replaced by a pair of complementary backrestsupport bars 41 and 42. Support bars 41 and -42..are each attached at their outer end portions to a side rest frame in the same manner as theattachment of theends of backrest bar 23. Toward the center of back 12 of the sofa-bed, the other ends of support bars .4! and 42 are pivotally attached at pivot points 43 and 44, respectively, to backrest l2. Brackets 45 and 46 are each rigidly attached to backrest l2, and support bars 41 and 42 are pivotally attached to these brackets by bolts 47 and 48, respectively. Again, it is essential that the pivot points 43 and 44 be in line with the axis formed by pivot points 17 and 33 on the extreme ends of the support bars to prevent binding between the support bars and backrest 12 during movement of the backrest from one position to another. The use of the two support bars 41 and 42 permits the use of two shorter bars, less expensive than bars such as 23, while providing the added support of bracing member portions 49 and 50, which are available to support the center portion of backrest 12 when it is in the bed position.

It can be seen that there has been provided a convertible sofa-bed of the type in which the backrest rotates forwardly and downwardly into the bed position wherein a support is provided between the ends of the backrest which does not interfere with the convertibility of the sofa-bed.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in-connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation in the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a convertible sofa-bed structure, having an elevated horizontally disposed first frame, a seat cushion supported on said frame, an armrest frame of a length less than the width of said first frame and seat cushion pivoted at its lower forward end to said first frame inwardly from one end thereof and swingable in a plane parallel therewith, said armrest frame being of a height greater than the height of said seat cushion, a substantially L-shaped link having its lower branch pivoted to said first frame inwardly of the ends of said armrest frame in the same horizontal plane with said armrest pivoted and disposed between said armrest frame and said first frame, a backrest supported in upstanding position of said seat cushion, the upper branch of said link being of a length to have its upper end project beyond the forward end of said first frame when pivotally moved to substantially horizontal position to insure a proper meeting of the adjacent edges of the seat cushion and backrest, a pivot on the free end of the upper branch of said link connecting the said link with said backrest inwardly from the upper end of said backrest a distance equal to the projection of said link beyond said first frame when in horizontal position, a bracket projecting rearwardly from said backrest near the lower end thereof, a leg projecting upwardly from the rear end of said armrest frame and serving as a support for the backrest to maintain the backrest at an angle with respect to the surface of the seat cushion comfortable to the user of the seat cushion, a pivot connecting the rear end of said bracket with said leg; said leg being of a length substantially equal to the elevation of said seat cushion and when resting on the floor to act as a support for the backrest in alignment with the seat cushion with little if any of the first frame projecting above the surface of the backrest, and stop means'secured to the first frame near its forward edge to support said second frame when swung in horizontal alignment with the first frame, the improvement which comprises:

a backrest support bar extending from the leg and having a support member pivotally attached to the backrest at a point intermediate the ends of the backrest.

2. The improvement of claim 1 in which the leg is positioned at a first end of the first frame, the backrest support bar extending from the leg to the other end of the first frame and terminating in a second leg coupled to the first frame and connected at a pivot point at the other end of the first frame, the support member being pivotally attached to the backrest at a pivot point along an axis established by the pivot points of the legs.

3. The improvement of claim 1 in which the backrest support bar terminates at the support member at a point less than half the distance from the first leg to the opposite end of the first frame. 

1. In a convertible sofa-bed structure, having an elevated horizontally disposed first frame, a seat cushion supported on said frame, an armrest frame of a length less than the width of said first frame and seat cushion pivoted at its lower forward end to said first frame inwardly from one end thereof and swingable in a plane parallel therewith, said armrest frame being of a height greater than the height of said seat cushion, a substantially L-shaped link having its lower branch pivoted to said first frame inwardly of the ends of said armrest frame in the same horizontal plane with said armrest pivoted and disposed between said armrest frame and said first frame, a backrest supported in upstanding position of said seat cushion, the upper branch of said link being of a length to have its upper end project beyond the forward end of said first frame when pivotally moved to substantially horizontal position to insure a proper meeting of the adjacent edges of the seat cushion and backrest, a pivot on the free end of the upper branch of said link connecting the said link with said backrest inwardly from the upper end of said backrest a distance equal to the projection of said link beyond said first frame when in horizontal position, a bracket projecting rearwardly from said backrest near the lower end thereof, a leg projecting upwardly from the rear end of said armrest frame and serving as a support for the backrest to maintain the backrest at an angle with respect to the surface of the seat cushion comfortable to the user of the seat cushion, a pivot connecting the rear end of said bracket with said leg; said leg being of a length substantially equal to the elevation of said seat cushion and when resting on the floor to act as a support for the backrest in alignment with the seat cushion with little if any of the first frame projecting above the surface of the backrest, and stop means secured to the first frame near its forward edge to support said second frame when swung in horizontal alignment with the first frame, the improvement which comprises: a backrest support bar extending from the leg and having a support member pivotally attached to the backrest at a point intermediate the ends of the backrest.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 in which the leg is positioned at a first end of the first frame, the backrest support bar extending from the leg to the other end of the first frame and terminating in a second leg coupled to the first frame and connected at a pivot point at the other end of the first frame, the support member being pivotally attached to the backrest at a pivot point along an axis established by the pivot points of the legs.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 in which the backrest support bar terminates at the support member at a point less than half the distance from the first leg to the opposite end of the first frame. 